~ Raleigh NC – Ed Wyatt Chapter

Another Hoppy New Year

William Boyd was born in Ohio in 1895 and was raised in the Tulsa, OK area. He came to Hollywood in 1918 and became a leading man during the silent era, with his best work done for Cecil B. DeMille. Boyd’s first foray as Hoppy came in 1935, the same year Republic Pictures was formed.

Hopalong Cassidy and Gabby Hayes (Art (c) Jim Sanders)

A line from John Ford’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance goes, “This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”

There was a moment in time when Bill Boyd ceased being Bill Boyd and simply became Hoppy, the legend–at least for the rest of us. Not a bad way to go.

Our feature for Thursday, January 17 is Three Men From Texas with Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd), Russell Hayden and Andy Clyde.

We will also view chapters 4 and 5 of the Gene Autry serial, The Phantom Empire and we’ll see Crooked Trail with Johnny Mack Brown to round out the evening.